Change at the Top: Tech Up to No. 2 and Alabama No.1

After Texas Tech upset No. 1 Texas, they moved to No. 2 in the AP Poll and Alabama moved to No. 1

Alabama (9-0) also remained unbeaten and took No. 1 after Texas lost, shutting out Arkansas State 35-0. The Crimson Tide received 46 of 65 first place votes. Alabama is the fifth team to hold No. 1 this season and the Crimson Tide will be challenged immediately as they visit the No. 15 LSU.

Tech (9-0) moved up four spots to No. 2. The No. 2 ranking is the highest in Texas Tech’s history. They were ranked fifth in 1938, when they started 10-0. The Red Raiders received 12 first place votes. Tech will face their third consecutive ranked opponent, and second in the top ten as they host the No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The Penn State Nittany Lions (9-0) dropped to No. 3 after being idle last week. Penn State received six first place votes and visit their Big Ten rival Iowa.

The Florida Gators (7-1) moved up one spot to No. 4 after defeating No. 8 Georgia 49-10. The Gators play at Vanderbilt next week.

Texas (8-1) dropped to No. 5 after the loss. The Longhorns, after playing four straight top 10 opponents, face (3-6) Baylor, are at (6-3) Kansas, and are home against (4-5) Texas A&M.

Oklahoma (8-1) dropped two spots despite a 62-28 win over Nebraska. With Texas Tech moving to the top five and Alabama and Florida winning, Oklahoma really was not able to move up. In addition, Texas beat Oklahoma earlier in the season. Oklahoma visits Texas A&M (4-5) this week.

The USC Trojans (7-1) stayed at No. 7 after shutting out Washington 56-0. It was the third time in four games the Trojans shut out their opponent. The Trojans host California (6-2) who is second in the Pac-10.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-1) moved up one spot to No. 8 after defeating Iowa State 59-17. The Cowboys will visit No. 2 Texas Tech this week for their third top three opponent in three weeks. Oklahoma State has lost the last nine times they have been in Lubbock.

Boise State (8-0) moved up two spots to No. 9 after defeating New Mexico State 49-0. The Broncos host Utah State to try to keep their BCS chances alive.

The Utah Utes (9-0) round out the top ten with a 13-10 victory over New Mexico. They will try to keep their BCS hopes alive against No. 11 TCU (9-1).

In the rest of the top 25, TCU moves up two spots to No. 11. The Ohio State Buckeyes (7-2) move up one to No. 12. The Missouri Tigers (7-2) move up to No. 13. Georgia (7-2) drops eight spots to No. 14. LSU (6-2) remained at No. 15. Ball State (8-0) moved up two spots to No. 16. The Brigham Young Cougars (8-1) stayed at No. 17. Michigan State (8-2) moved up four spots to No. 18. North Carolina (6-2) moved up two spots to No. 19.

West Virginia (6-2) jumped into the rankings at No. 20. California joined the rankings at No. 21. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets moved into the top 25 at No. 22. Maryland (6-2) moved up two spots to No. 23. Florida State (6-2) dropped eight spots to No. 24. Pittsburgh (6-2) finished out the top 25.

No. 19 Tulsa, No. 20 Minnesota, No. 23 Oregon, and No. 24 South Florida dropped out of the top 25.